In our previous Life@Oi highlight, we focused on Ernest and Vivian, our Strategy and Development Project Leads, who illustrated what it is like to be adaptable and foster collaboration among our global teams.
This time, we are spotlighting Patrick Schraets and Lily Zhou, who both recently moved into global roles after years of experience in different markets and function areas.
Patrick and Lily embody the essence of our vibrant innovation and culture. Their unwavering commitment to learning and enthusiasm for undertaking new opportunities and challenges in our company is a testament to the spirit of continuous growth and adaptability that Life@Oi champions.
Opportunities for Growth
Through Otto International’s various development programmes, Patrick and Lily sharpened the skills in their toolbox to excel in their new roles. Patrick’s priority is to grow by facing new situations. Over his career, Patrick has worked in the garment industry around Europe and Southeast Asia, gaining experience in various fields – from development, merchandising, production, and quality. Wanting to work closer to the supply chain, he joined Otto International in Dhaka as a Quality Manager in 2019, before becoming our Head of Quality in Bangladesh. Currently, he is the Türkiye Key Account Manager for one of our main customers. During his time, he has observed that Otto International “recognises talent, acknowledges hard work, and provides opportunities to learn,” and therefore an ideal place to grow.
Similarly, Lily has 25 years of experience in the US, Europe, and Asia at major brands and supply chain services companies. She joined Otto International in 2017 as the Senior Merchandising Manager for a key customer. For the last four years, Lily has been the China Key Account Manager for another primary customer and now manages their account globally. In contrast to her most recent experience in the Chinese market, Lily’s new role positions her to “push [her] thinking and learn about new platforms and technologies to achieve Otto International’s goals and operate within a multicultural framework.” Lily’s dedication to being a lifelong student is a testament to her forward-thinking mindset, maintaining the belief that “you must keep yourself learning; it can be through understanding new trends or implementing new ideas.”
Continuous Learning
Patrick and Lily are previous participants of Oi Academy, an initiative to nurture future leaders by developing their collaboration and leadership skills by engaging with colleagues from different function areas and locations on various innovation projects. Patrick explains that the experience trained them to “fall in love with the problem, not the solution.” The initiative prompted them to adapt their thinking and search for solutions in more systematic and creative ways.
Giving and receiving feedback are essential skills for leaders like Patrick and Lily, which they have both refined through trainings. Patrick credits his experiences in Oi Academy and our ‘Train the Trainer’ Programme with teaching him to “adjust yourself to improve yourself” when leading. His approach focuses on fostering a culture of self-improvement in his teams, rather than just providing solutions. For Lily, it was the psychometric tests she took when training that gave her the insight she needed. She also adapts to the working styles of her colleagues, providing encouragement for more proactive team members and offering guidance and feedback to colleagues who are less self-assured. She underscores that constructive feedback is a gift because “you can never do something 100%, there is always something missing – if someone can point this out to you, it’s a very good lesson.”
Embracing Challenge
With Patrick and Lily stepping into new roles, they inevitably face challenges. Moving to a new country has its difficulties; however, Patrick actively sought them. He communicated to his manager that relocating within the company was a career goal and explains, “it is important for me to be proactive in searching for experiences where I can expand my learning – overcoming challenges is what drives me.”
For Patrick, working in Istanbul presented a chance to explore a new market and function area. He believes his experience in different departments “makes [him] more adaptable and deployable in various scenarios.” Patrick also thinks his background in Quality Control in particular makes him more “empathetic to the challenges Quality faces, which at times may be exacerbated by other departments.” One of his goals is to be a mediator between departments, believing his experience allows him to “help iron out the issues” and foster cooperation.
Similarly, the transition from leading a local team to a global one presents Lily with new tasks: “the biggest learning curve will be developing my strategic thinking to a larger, more complex scale.” This involves understanding different global markets and ensuring the team’s overarching goals align with Otto International’s vision. To facilitate this change, Lily has proactively requested mentoring to “support and guide [her] in leading and motivating [her] own team.” This combination of training and mentorship will enhance Lily’s leadership capabilities as well as ensure that her global team thrives under her guidance.
Patrick and Lily epitomise the ethos of Life@Oi, representing our global workforce and values. Their inquisitive spirit pushed them to embrace new opportunities for growth. They are only some of the people that represent the essence of our organisation, where we foster a culture of innovation and forward-thinking for our employees to excel.
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